The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-19
DR.. PATRONS TESTIMONY TO UNI
VERSALISM, ONCE MORE.

Resuming the consideration of DR..
Patton's testimony to Universalism
from the point where we left off in the
last paper, we remark:
(4) The Doctor says, "Universalism
has aided to keep up the idea of retribu-
ton in this world" And how import
ant it is that this idea should be ''kept
up" Tell men that the punishment
Of their sins is delayed to another
world, and you remove from before
their minds the very nature of retribu-
ton. You blind their eyes to that law
of their being which naturally brings
misery into their lives just as surely as
that they sin. Especially do you de-
Jude men, by teaching them that the
punishment of their sin is reserved for
a future state, if, at the same time,
you give them to understand that the
punishment may be RENTED by the ac-
ceptance of the device of vicarious
atonement at any moment before death.
Now Universalism has accomplished a
great work in promulgating just ideas
of the nature of retribution, and of the
absolute certainty of speedy punish
ment for every transgression.
(5) DR.. Patton further says: "Uni-
versalism he1 prevented too conclu-
sive reliance upon future punishment
as motive to the Christian life. .
This is true for Universalism has
shown that the true motive to Christ
ian life is love, and not fear,-even the
love to God that is awakened in the
soul by knowledge of the character of
God. Universalism has shown that
no motive but love can make man
Christian that policy engendered by
the fear of future punishment affords
no motive that is really Christian and
that, whatever mans profession may
be, he is not Christian, and knows
nothing of true Christian joy, if he acts
from no higher motive than the fear of
future punishment or the hope of future
bliss. Universalism has shown that
pure love is of heaven and that, in
proportion as the life is under the do
minion of pure love, heaven is realized.
Universalism has shown that the Christ
ian life here is not life of sorrow, but
OF joy, mot sanctimonious long faced
ness, but sensible and cheerful aspect,
and a hearty and worthy endeavor to
do real good. Here is another very i'm
portant work, then, that Universalism
has accomplished.
(6) Finally, DR.. Patton says: "Uni-
versalism has corrected certain views
as to the extent of the atonement." 1t
used to be taught, by the Calvinistic
school in theology, that the atonement
was designed only for an elect part of
mankind. The Arminian school oppos-
ed the Calvinists here, and contended
that the atonement was intended for all
mankind; while still with the greatest
logical inconsistency they agreed with
the Calvinists in saying that the final
benefit of the atonement would be en-
joyed by only part of mankind The
error of the Calvinist is no greater than
that of the Arminian, although it has
an appearance of greater inhumanity
In its statement; for both Calvinism
and Arminianism allow that the atone
ment actually accomplishes only par
tial good in the end. Universalism has
shown that the atonement is the recon-
ciliatiOn and that the reconciliation
to be effected is the reconciliation to |
God of all now unrec0nciled souls,
that this is the work undertaken
by Christ through divine appointment.
Universalism has shown this SO clearly
that divines everywhere are now be-
ginning to see it.
But DR.. Patton might, with equal
force, have said that Universalism has
also corrected false views of the nature
of the atOnement; for, until lately, the
was taught as vicarious sac
riice offered up in the person of Christ
on the cross to appease an offended
God, and to enable the sinner to escape
the penalty ofhis sins by accepting that
transaction with the heart. Universal
ism has shown that the atonement is of
no such nature; but that it is the re-
Cancellation, and that the reconcilia.
ton Of man to God, through that